Okay, so discovering Napoleon’s real height probably isn’t going to change your life. But some myths — like these four misconceptions about productivity — are actually fairly important to debunk. Here’s what you should really know about getting things done.

Myth 1: A Messy Desk Impedes Productivity

Take a look around you. Is your desk strewn with folders, paperwork, Post-It notes, office supplies, notebooks, and other miscellaneous objects?

If yes, I’ve got good news for you: Your cluttered workspace is actually making you more productive than your organization-obsessed peers.

As technology expert Brian Christian explained on his Note to Selfpodcast, the principle of temporal locality means whatever item you’re likeliest to need next is one of the last things you touched. Let’s say you need to look at a contract. Temporal locality says chances are good that contract is sitting close at hand.

The takeaway: Organizing your desk is largely a waste of time, since the most relevant stuff will rise to the top anyway.

Myth 2: You Can Work an 8-Hour Day

Even if you’re physically at work each day for eight to 10 hours, you probably already know that you don’t spend all of that time productively. Between coffee runs, lunch, water-cooler conversations, and random internet distractions, you’re probably only putting in, oh, six to eight hours of legitimate work, right?

To maximize your ability to focus, experts recommend setting aside a chunk of time each day for your most demanding projects. Choose this window based on your natural energy patterns; for example, if you usually find your groove at 10 a.m., that’s when you’d pick up your hardest tasks.

Myth 3: Don’t Take Breaks When You’re In-the-Zone

In the past, I dealt with extra long to-do lists by grabbing a liter of Diet Coke and a box of Cheez-Its, and metaphorically chaining myself to my desk until I’d knocked off every item. Although I’d usually end the day with a stomachache, I always felt satisfied by how much I’d accomplished.

Turns out I could’ve been more productive (not to mention happier) if I’d taken periodic breaks.

Myth 4: Being Productive Is Possible All Year Long

If you start counting down the days to summer on January 1st, you’re definitely not alone. But June’s sunny skies, higher temps, and al fresco meals come at a cost: Your ability to stay engaged at work.

Those stats aren’t great even when they apply to one person. But since most of us also depend on several coworkers to help us do our job, summer’s impact on productivity can compound across the team.

Luckily, there are a couple steps you can take to mitigate these effects. First, ask whomever controls the AC to keep your office around 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit — research suggests this is the temperature sweet spot for boosting productivity. Second, get a mental and physical boost (and enjoy the rays) by taking your meetings outside. Finally, if you’ve got vacation days, think about taking them. (And don’t feel guilty: HR professionals “overwhelmingly agree” that employees who take time off “perform better, are more productive and more satisfied in their jobs than those who do not.”)

Thanks for joining me on this episode of HubSpot Mythbusters. Now that you know the truth, how will you work differently? Share your thoughts in the comments.